Seminar in Eugene discusses bus drivers being key in preventing school shootings

Hundred come to Eugene to learn how school bus drivers could be the first line of defense when it comes to preventing school shootings.

Posted: Feb. 24, 2018 7:25 PM

Posted By: KEZI Staff

EUGENE, Ore. - The First Baptist Church in Eugene held a seminar on Saturday about how bus drivers could be the first line of defense in preventing school shootings.

Six-hundred bus drivers from 22 different school districts gathered to listen to Stephen Sroka.

Sroka believes drivers can make a difference by getting troubled students the help they need.

He said this could possibly prevent some school shootings by watching and reporting behavior that concerns them.

"The first person to see our kids every day is the school bus driver. The last person to see our kids every day is the school bus driver," said Sroka. "School bus drivers are underpaid, they're underappreciated, and yet, an integral part of keeping our kids safe."

Sroka said he respects bus drivers especially knowing they have so much on their plates.

He added that they're such an important part of students lives.

He said he hopes more drivers understand how important they really are and how much of a difference they can make.